The Listening Process

The Listening Process - Page Text Content

FC: The Listening Process By Morgan Martin | By Morgan Martin

1: There are four steps in the listening process. Receiving, interpreting, evaluating and responding.

2: The first step in the listening process is receiving. Receiving involves hearing and seeing. You can hear the message, "Hey!" Your eyes read the nonverbal signs to get the full message. You look for gestures and eye movements. Nonverbal clues can be a good hint for the true meaning behind a message.

3: Hey, there! /

4: The second step in the listening process is interpreting. After receiving your message you use your own experience to interpret what you have heard. Effective listeners try to interpret the speaker's message to truly understand what the speaker intended to say.

5: I've heard someone say that before somewhere...Oh, yeah! Everywhere! How would I respond....?

6: After you receive and interpret a message, the next step is to evaluate. You have to connect that message to your ideas or feelings about the subject of the message. You decide if you agree or disagree, or if you need more information.

7: I'll respond now!

8: The fourth and final step in the listening process is responding. Almost all messages require some type of response. No response can make the speaker feel invisible. When you don't responding, it is called a disconfirming message. As a listener, it is your job to respond.